Prayers of the Bible at a Glance

A quick guide to the prayers of the Bible

From

REJOICE always, PRAY continually, GIVE

THANKS IN

all circumstances;

FOR THIS IS GOD’S WILL FOR YOU IN CHRIST JESUS.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

INTRODUCTION

Prayer can be really hard. Sometimes our thoughts are so jumbled, we don’t even know what to say. At other times, we’re not sure if we’re praying for the right thing. When we’re upset, our prayers feel like we’re just shouting at God. And all too frequently we’re not even sure if God is really listening. That’s why the prayers of Scripture are so important. They are totally relatable! Some people prayed for the wicked to be saved; others prayed for eternal justice. Some prayers shook the earth; others were whispered in private. Some poured out praise; others questions. Some were full of confidence; others doubt. Some rejoiced in the unknowable, others screamed “Why?”

These prayers were prayed everywhere—from tall mountaintops to the sunken depths of a fish’s belly. One of the people praying literally spread everything out before God, one curled up in a ball, one looked drunk and a couple even prayed as they died.

If that tells us anything, it’s that prayer doesn’t come from a rule book; it comes from the heart. Our hope is that these little introductions to the prayers of the Bible will inspire you to read and reflect on them for yourself. As you do, you’ll find more and more reasons to always fix your eyes on the Lord in your own unique and personal prayer life—and to go deeper in your intimacy with Him.

In Him, Your friends at Our Daily Bread Ministries

PRAYER: Genesis 18:16-33

ANSWER: Genesis 19:1-29

THE PRAYER THAT tried to save a wicked city

When was the last time you had to ask for mercy? Maybe you needed a deadline extension from your boss. Or perhaps you let a friend down badly and you hoped they would be willing to restore your relationship.

Our instinct is to ask for mercy hesitantly, knowing we are asking for something we don’t really deserve. This is similar to Abraham’s prayer for Sodom. God was about to wipe out the whole city, and everyone in it. Soon a thriving, but dangerously wicked population, would be nothing but dust and ashes.

Abraham knew that Sodom was a bad place; but he also knew God takes no pleasure in bringing judgement. So he asked for mercy: “What if fifty righteous people are found? Will you spare the city? What about forty . . . or thirty . . . or twenty . . . or ten?”

Each time God agreed. Showing mercy wasn’t actually Abraham’s idea; it’s something God loves to do—and to be asked for. In fact, what we see in the unfolding story is that Abraham stopped asking too soon! No, ten righteous people couldn’t be found in Sodom, and so judgement came. Yet so too did mercy— and one of the most dramatic rescues of Scripture.

Discover with Abraham that when it comes to mercy, the God of all grace is just waiting for us to ask.

PRAYER: Exodus 5:22-23

ANSWER: Exodus 6:1-8

THE PRAYER THAT asked why

Have you ever prayed for something, and it seemed like God did the opposite?

Following God’s instructions, Moses made the journey to Egypt and announced to the Israelite slaves that God was going to perform mighty miracles and set them free. The people rejoiced at this wonderful news, bowing down to worship God.

Encouraged by the people’s response, Moses approached Pharaoh with God’s demand, “Let my people go!” That’s where it all started to go wrong.

“No,” Pharaoh shouted. In fact, he was so annoyed at Moses for distracting his workforce that he decided to make the slaves work even harder.

The people were angry, but not at Pharaoh; they were angry at Moses! Yet Moses had only done what God commanded. In sheer frustration, Moses cried to God, “Why did you send me if You were only going to make things worse?”

It seems a fair question. “I will bring you to the land I promised,” God assured him. Moses just had to keep trusting. He didn’t yet see that this was all part of a rescue plan that was beyond his wildest dreams—even Pharaoh’s stubbornness.

It’s okay to be honest in prayer and ask God about things that don’t make sense. But remember that God sees what we don’t; He might be working out a plan that’s bigger than we could imagine!

PRAYER: Exodus 32:7-13

ANSWER : Exodus 32:14

THE PRAYER THAT reminded God who He is

Have you ever had to be calmed down during a heated argument when you’ve said something rash or out of character?

At first glance, it may seem like God momentarily lost His cool when the Israelites made a golden calf to worship. “Leave me alone,” He said to Moses, “so my anger can burn against them and destroy them.”

Moses appeared to be the rational one: “Remember the promise you made to them.”

Does God really need us to remind Him of His promises? Is there ever a danger that our sin will push Him too far and He’ll suddenly snap? No—God is always faithful. He will never fail to honour His Word.

In fact, He chose Moses to lead the people because he understood God’s heart and would pray according to His ways.

In this exchange, God reveals the judgement the people truly deserve for breaking their covenant relationship with Him by worshipping an idol. And Moses takes on the role of mediator (much like Jesus would do for us many centuries later), to turn away God’s wrath.

We can always pray in confidence according to what God has revealed in His Word. For He stays true to every promise He has made. When we know we’ve fallen out of line with it, our hope is in Jesus, the meditator who not only turns aside God’s judgement, but actually takes it on Himself.

PRAYER: 1 Samuel 1:1-18

ANSWER: 1 Samuel 1:19-28

THE

PRAYER THAT

was mistaken for drunkenness

The pain was real. Month after month gave way to fresh tears. Year after heart-breaking year she was tormented by her husband’s other wife. And still no child came.

Hannah fell to her knees at the temple and poured out her heart and soul to the Lord. All her grief, all her anguish, all her bitterness, all the insults she had suffered. And she said, “Give me a son, and I will give him back to you.”

Her prayers were so earnest and emotional, the priest sitting nearby was convinced she was a drunk.

Have you ever prayed like that? Raw, honest, desperate?

Hannah gave it all to God; not just her desire, but also His answer. She offered back to God whatever He would give her. She kept God at the very centre; even in her pain.

Within a year, Hannah had her son. And as soon as he was weaned, she sent him to the temple to live his life in service of God. Samuel became one of the most outstanding leaders and prophets Israel ever had; all because of Hannah’s desperate prayer.

Sometimes the griefs and losses in our lives are there for a reason. Our prayers of desperation just might be part of God’s plan to do something greater and more far-reaching than we can possibly imagine. Just ask Hannah.

PRAYER: 1 Kings 3:5-14

ANSWER : 1 Kings 3:16-28

THE PRAYER THAT preferred wisdom to gold

If God invited you to “ask for whatever you want,” what would you ask for? Money? Fame? Power?

Solomon was Israel’s new king. His father had built a strong, successful kingdom and Solomon now had the daunting task of leading the government, commanding the armies, ruling the people and serving as head of the justice system. Understandably, he was quite overwhelmed by this enormous responsibility.

One night God came to Solomon in a dream and said, “Ask for whatever you want.” What would be the one thing he’d ask for above all others?

“I can’t possibly lead this nation on my own. I’m like a child! Please give me wisdom so I can govern Your people well.”

Wisdom! Solomon could have asked for absolutely anything, and he chose to be wise. It was a choice that pleased God and made Israel a beacon of His light to the rest of the world.

Do you feel overwhelmed trying to navigate the difficulties of life? God loves it when we come to Him for help. His offer is for you as well—the New Testament writer James tells us that if any of us lacks wisdom, we should ask God and He will give it to us.

Not one of us is smart enough to navigate this world on our own; but through prayer, we don’t have to!

PRAYER: 1 Kings 18:41-43

ANSWER: 1 Kings 18:44-45

THE

PRAYER THAT

brought the rain

What image comes to mind when you hear the phrase “powerful prayer”? A fiery saint shouting out impassioned pleas? Mountains trembling at the words of God’s people?

What about an exhausted figure crouched on the ground with his head between his knees, like a small child, asking again and again for God to end the drought across hot, dusty Israel?

It’s not the classic pose of a champion; certainly not one who had literally just seen God rain down fire from heaven on Mount Carmel. The prophet Elijah looked anything but powerful and assured in that moment. He looked weak, weary and empty.

Yet centuries later, James would write words of Scripture describing this very prayer as “powerful and effective”. Because powerful prayers are not prayed by powerful people. Powerful prayers are prayed by weak people to the all-powerful God.

Elijah couldn’t make it rain, any more than you can control the outcomes of your situations. So he came to the Lord, weak as he was, to depend on Him alone.

Your prayers are powerful—every word of them—because of the One you pray to. Come, weak as you are, and put all your confidence in Him.

PRAYER: 2 Kings 19:14-19

ANSWER: 2 Kings 19:20-37

THE

PRAYER THAT

spread it all out before God

What do you pray when you are in trouble?

“God, help me!” is a pretty normal response. And it’s a good one—it shows we’re depending on God to get us through hard times.

But King Hezekiah took that prayer a little deeper: “God, make Your name great in this.”

King Hezekiah and the people of Israel were in real trouble. The King of Assyria and his mighty army were marching towards God’s people, intent on destruction. They were a terrifying invasion force. “Your God can’t help you now,” the Assyrian king wrote to Hezekiah.

Hezekiah did the only thing he could. He laid out all the letters and threats before God and said, “Show the world who you are.”

Hezekiah knew that if God’s people were defeated, it would dishonour God. He prayed for God to glorify Himself by defeating Israel’s enemies. His prayer rested on the truth that God reigns over all trials and troublemakers.

Any threat to God’s people is a threat against God Himself. He doesn’t take it lightly when we’re under attack. Hezekiah’s prayer teaches us that God loves to move on behalf of His people so that “all the earth may know that He alone is God.”

PRAYER: 1 Chronicles 4:9-10

ANSWER: 1 Chronicles 4:10

THE PRAYER THAT sought a whole new life

It’s hard to live under the cloud of a bad reputation. Jabez knew what it was like. Why? Because he had a rather unfortunate name. Jabez means “pain” or, perhaps more literally, “a cause of sorrow”.

In a culture where names carry a lot of weight, Jabez was a marked man.

So what do you pray when you want to be more than your circumstances allow? Jabez didn’t pray according to the world’s expectations or even according to his own dreams. He prayed using God’s promises as His guide.

“Bless me and send me out as a blessing!” Jabez took God’s promise of blessing to Abraham and his descendants—made hundreds of years earlier—and applied it personally.

Sometimes the world boxes us in. Sometimes we’re given unfair labels. Sometimes we’re limited and restricted. But God never is. He loves it when we pray according to His promises. He loves to show Himself to be faithful.

They are God’s promises—so He will always keep them. We just need to discover them and pray them back to God, just like Jabez did.

PRAYER: 1 Chronicles 29:10-19

ANSWER: 1 Chronicles 29:20-25

THE

FINAL PRAYER

of a man after God’s own heart

What makes up your ‘world’? Your home; your family; your career; your savings; your reputation; your responsibilities . . . what else is in there? When you pack everything in, just how big is your kingdom?

It’s so easy to become kings and queens of our little empires; living to build our own legacy. If anyone could have done that, surely it was King David.

Israel was the crown jewel of the world’s power. And David was Israel’s finest king. But King David’s heart was always focused on God’s greatness, not his own.

Rather than getting puffed up about everything that belonged to him, David laid it all out before God: “Everything in heaven and earth is yours.” He even went so far as to say, “Who am I that I could have so much to offer you?”

In his humility, David prayed his son would continue leading the people to wholehearted devotion to the Lord. He knew how easy it is to become loyal to ourselves and our kingdoms, rather than to the true King who deserves it all.

At the very end of his life, David imparted one last life-lesson: our lives become so much more when they are humbly entrusted to the King of kings.

PRAYER: 2 Chronicles 20:2-12

ANSWER: 2 Chronicles 20:13-30

THE

PRAYER THAT

had no idea what to do

What do you pray when you’re in a totally impossible situation? Do you try to figure out a strategy and tell God how He can fix things?

King Jehoshaphat shows us a much better way. The Israelites were in trouble again; a powerful enemy army was approaching. Outnumbered, outgunned and outsmarted, Jehoshaphat remembered God’s powerful victories and clung to His covenant promises.

He was totally honest with the Lord, “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” Jehoshaphat couldn’t do anything but set his eyes—and his hope—on God. And then wait.

The reply he got is something we all need to hear: “The battle is not yours, but God’s.”

We don’t have to have it all together when we pray. We don’t need to have the right words—sometimes we don’t need any words. No matter what we’re going through or how well we can express it, prayer is how we hand our burdens over to the Lord. We remind ourselves of His faithfulness, tell him about our deepest fears and put our trust entirely in Him to answer.

We may not get immediate answers or guidance when we pray; but we can set our hope on God. And then march into whatever battle we face with the same battleplan as Jehoshaphat: praise.

PRAYER: Ezra 9:5-15

ANSWER: Ezra 10:1-17

THE PRAYER THAT drenched the floor with tears

Naughty but nice—or something more sinister? What is sin and how should we feel about it?

Ezra tore his clothes, threw himself on the floor and wept over sin. What had happened? The Israelites had finally returned home from exile, but the people, including the leaders and priests, had been intermarrying with their idol-worshipping neighbours.

Weeping over marriages might seem like a huge overreaction. But this practice rejected God Himself. Historically, marrying into idolatrous nations was what first led God’s people astray as they soon adopted the foreign gods, morals, laws and cultures. Ezra was devastated to see God’s people turning to walk down that path again.

Ezra saw sin—all sin—for what it really is. Big or little, secret or public, any rejection of God makes us guilty and unable to stand in His holy presence. His prayer allowed him to grieve before the Lord, peeling back sin’s attractive packaging and seeing the damage it causes.

Grieving over sin isn’t comfortable. It will force us to admit what sin really is and how it hurts God’s kingdom and us. But we will also find freedom as we see sin as God does, grieve over it, reject it and cling more tightly to our loving, forgiving God.

PRAYER: Nehemiah 1:4-11

ANSWER: Nehemiah 2:5-9

THE PRAYER

THAT

secured the favour of a king

What role does prayer play when you face stressful situations? How do you balance the tension between crying out to God and taking action yourself?

Nehemiah was distraught to hear about the state of his home. He needed to do something. He decided he must admit his distress to the king and ask for permission to go and help rebuild Jerusalem. But sadness in the king’s presence was seen as bad luck and therefore forbidden; so this could land him in serious trouble.

Nehemiah couldn’t do anything to secure the king’s favour. He was powerless to help his fellow Israelites. He had no way of changing his circumstances. So before he took action, he spent many days fasting and praying, seeking God’s leading and entrusting these things to the One who does have real power. In fact, several months passed between when he heard about the desperate state of Jerusalem and when he approached the king. There’s no rulebook for how long we should pray before we act. But action is best taken when it’s surrounded by prayerful dependence on the Lord.

Even after all that prayer, Nehemiah was still fearful as he approached the king. Yet, as he opened his mouth he knew the situation, and the outcome, belonged to the Lord. It was action bathed in prayer.

PRAYER: Job 40:3-4

ANSWER: Job 40:5-41:34

THE PRAYER THAT knew when to be quiet

Do you ever get that sinking feeling that you should just stop talking?

Job experienced that too, during the most humbling conversation of his life—with God Himself.

Job had lost everything—his children, servants, money, position, reputation and health. Grief-stricken and covered in painful sores, Job clung to the one thing he had left: God. There in the ashes of his ravaged life, Job worshipped.

But that didn’t mean he didn’t ask why. Why had God allowed such bitter suffering with no relief? In humility, he brought his complaints before God, “Even if you kill me, I will hope in You; but I’m not going to stop arguing my case!”

Eventually, God answered. He didn’t give Job an explanation of his situation; He gave him Himself. He came close to Job in a way that only suffering people can understand. But God had an argument for Job as well: “Do you really think you should be trying to correct Almighty God?”

“I put my hand over my mouth,” Job replied. “I have nothing left to say.” Job knew that God was good, trustworthy and worthy of worship whether or not he understood why God allowed his suffering.

When life is deeply painful and unfair, it’s okay to ask “Why?”

He may not give us all the answers we want; but God is God. He is good, fair and worthy of worship, even on our darkest days.

THE PRAYER WHEN God felt distant

Have you ever felt like your prayers bounced off the ceiling? Like God wasn’t listening? What can you do when it feels like God just isn’t there?

King David knew that feeling. He was a man after God’s own heart. God was at the centre of everything he did. And yet even he had seasons when he cried out, “How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?”

When it seems like God is silent or like your prayers are not being answered, David teaches us not to despair. These seasons are not a sign of failure, but a reminder that while we are in this world, our faith will be challenged in many ways.

Will we still trust God’s love and presence even when we can’t feel it?

David shows us how to wrestle well in times of silence. “I trust in your unfailing love . . . I will sing the Lord’s praise.” Learn from David to look back at God’s faithfulness in the past; and to look forward to days filled with praise. The Lord is always at work for you, even when you can’t see what He’s doing.

No season of silence lasts forever; soon He will reveal the good work He’s been doing behind the scenes.

THE PRAYER THAT shook the earth

We are so small within the vast cosmos, it’s easy to believe our tiny little voices will never make it to heaven’s throne.

Perhaps that’s why David was inspired to write Psalm 18, describing a prayer he once prayed and the mighty way God answered it. In his distress, David had cried out to God—a lone voice in the infinite universe. Yet, “From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears.”

Much of the rest of the Psalm is a magnificent description of God moving in response to this one prayer. The earth trembles, mountains shake, and fire and smoke come from heaven as God parts the clouds and comes to aid His child.

Yes, this psalm is poetic, not literal. But it is there to help us see the unseeable; to pull back the curtain from the heavenly realms for us to glimpse how God responds to the prayers of His people. One cry is enough to move Him.

You may think your prayers are tiny and insignificant. Dwell on David’s retelling of his own prayer and you’ll soon realise that every word you speak shakes the world around you, for the Lord hears, responds and moves on your behalf.

THE PRAYER

THAT

felt forsaken

How honest are we allowed to be with God? Do we need to hide how we truly feel and pray neat, tidy prayers, or can we pour it all out when we feel like God is letting us down?

If we’re not allowed to be raw and honest in prayer, then King David is in big trouble! He cried out in anguish, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” In fact, even Jesus felt free enough to quote those same agonising words from the cross.

David uses his prayer to freely pour out his pain to God. He describes being in anguish, suffering scorn and hatred, being surrounded by danger and being utterly helpless to save himself. He pleads with God to stop being silent and to rush to his aid!

But David doesn’t stop there. After telling God all about his circumstances, David takes time to remember and celebrate all the things he knows to be true about God. “You are enthroned as the Holy One.” “You are my strength.” “You are worthy of the praises of all people.”

It’s ok be open, raw and honest with God when, like David, it comes from a heart of humility and trust in God’s goodness— even when we can’t see it.

In the end, we will all say with David, “God has done it!”

THE PRAYER OF a repentant murderer

King David took another man’s wife, got her pregnant, tried to cover it up and then, when all else failed, had her husband killed so he wouldn’t be found out.

How do you even begin to confess and find restoration from something like that? Did David grovel, plead and beg? Did he promise to do better? To make up for it somehow?

“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love.” David knew he deserved God’s justice, but he asked Him for mercy. He didn’t try to minimise or justify his sin; he agreed with God completely about the awfulness of what he’d done. And he knew that God is able to forgive even the very worst of sins.

“You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it,” David continued. He didn’t try to bargain with God; he simply came to the Lord for cleansing, for forgiveness, for healing, for restoration, for renewed delight in salvation . . . and without anything to offer in return.

Guilt and shame are heavy weights in our hearts; but God’s grace is bigger. There’s only one thing required for us to be cleaned whiter than snow. Confess your sin with David and discover that what God seeks is your heart.

THE PRAYER OF a betrayed friend

It’s one thing having enemies; but it’s heart-breaking when that enemy was once a trusted friend.

David understood perfectly. “If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it,” he wrote. “But it is my companion, my close friend.”

David remembered times of sweet fellowship as they worshipped at the temple together. But now, his friend had turned against him. He was tormented by the pain of betrayal. He even felt his life was in danger. David wished what we all do during painful seasons, “Oh that I had wings! I would fly far away and be at rest.”

Escape, however, was not possible. He had to find a way to endure—and even overcome—the anguish and fear he was feeling.

David’s prayer is a swirling jumble of thoughts, emotions, desires and distress. But ultimately, he chose to pour out his pain, confusion, fear, anger—everything he was feeling—to God.

An amazing thing happens when we give our burdens to the Lord; our perspective changes. As he prayed, David’s heart began to lift as he remembered the goodness and faithfulness of God. “As for me, I trust in You.”

Betrayal is painful. But David understood the secret to overcoming: “Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you.”

THE PRAYER THAT loved being at home with God

Home is where your heart is. It’s where we go to feel safe, comfortable and at rest. But for one psalmist, there was only one place on earth that was truly ‘home’: God’s temple.

Psalm 84 is a song of prayer about the unparalleled blessing of being with God. “My soul yearns for the courts of the Lord! Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you.” The psalmist even envied the sparrow who built a nest near the altar, thinking it must be amazing to always be so close to God!

Of course, the writer recognised that life cannot be just one big worship service. But he reminds us that our true home is found in the presence of God. Spending time alone with Him in prayer and quiet meditation brings more joy and blessing than we could ever imagine.

As we rest with Him, we are recharged to ‘visit’ the dry and sometimes weary world around us with His refreshment. In doing so, we invite others to ‘come home’ with us and find the rest and contentment they’re looking for.

“I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked,” the psalmist continues. When we take our time in prayer, we’ll also discover there really is no place like home.

PRAYER: Psalm 84

THE PRAYER THAT delighted in God’s love

“But does God really care about me?”

Have you ever asked this? Perhaps it’s something you’ve wondered in your heart, even if you’ve never spoken the words out loud.

We often look in the mirror and see someone unlovable. And that affects our relationship with the Lord and our confidence in prayer. But Psalm 139 wants us to see ourselves through God’s eyes, not our own.

David wrote this Psalm revelling in one key truth: “You truly know me.” From hand-making us in the womb, to staying with us through every moment of our lives, the Lord is deeply committed to His people. There’s nowhere you can go where He won’t be right there with you. And there’s nothing you can pray that He won’t already hear before it’s left your mouth.

“Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,” David wrote, overcome with awe and thankfulness. Find joyful fuel for your prayer life as you meditate with David on God’s perfect knowledge of His very precious creation: you.

THE PRAYER THAT

birthed a prophet

Wouldn’t it be amazing to see God in all His glory, His majesty and His dazzling holiness?

Isaiah was treated to just such a vision—and it nearly broke him. “Woe to me! I am ruined!”

In the blazing pure light of God, Isaiah was utterly devastated by his own sinfulness. All at once he understood that he was corrupt; in fact, everything was corrupt by comparison! But God didn’t leave Isaiah to stew in guilt and shame; He made a way for him to be cleansed.

But this was just the beginning of God’s plans for Isaiah. The people of Israel had become increasingly wicked. They had broken God’s covenant and were in grave danger of exile. God had put many warnings in Scripture about this, but He also wanted to send a prophet to call the people back to obedience and faith.

“Whom shall I send?” asked the Lord. It would not be an easy life. This prophet would be hated, persecuted, abused and ultimately rejected by the people. Who would sign up for something like that? “Here am I,” said Isaiah, “Send me!”

Having been touched and cleansed by the magnificently holy and powerful God he saw that day, Isaiah would pay any price to work for Him. Once we see God for who He really is, why would we choose anything else?

PRAYER: Isaiah 6:5-8

PRAYER: Daniel 9:3-19

ANSWER: Daniel 9:20-27

THE PRAYER THAT confessed the sin of a nation

When there is a dark stain on our conscience, we have a choice: confess it or hide it.

God’s people were guilty and exiled in Babylon. Their home was destroyed and the temple reduced to rubble. They had rejected God without any remorse. Judgement had followed.

Daniel, an Israelite of rare integrity, was totally committed to the Lord despite the challenges of exiled life. He’d rather have been eaten by lions (literally) than stop praying to God. And he was deeply grieved by the state of God’s people.

Daniel understood the power of confessing sin to the Lord in prayer. Knowing the exile was coming to an end, he “turned to the Lord” to make sure no sin was left hidden in the nation.

Daniel prayed as a representative of God’s sinful people, despite his own integrity. “We have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and rebelled. We have broken your laws.” And on he went, confessing the sins of the nation and reminding God of all His merciful promises.

Daniel’s prayer imitated what Jesus would do for us many centuries later. He identified himself with sinful people and sought God’s forgiveness as their representative.

Sin loses its power over us when it is confessed. Freedom and renewed hope are ours to claim, for we also have a Saviour who has sought forgiveness for us.

THE PRAYER FROM the belly of a fish

Have you ever felt like God was finished with you? Perhaps you’ve strayed so far from God that you don’t know if you can ever get back. If so, you might want to read the prayer from the strangest of all locations—inside a fish!

God had a tough job for Jonah, which he didn’t want. Jonah attempted something many of us have tried: he ran away (or, more literally, sailed away) from the Lord. As you might imagine, that didn’t work out too well.

The Lord sent a violent storm to disrupt Jonah’s escape plan. A watery death seemed inevitable. Until . . .

Gulp! A giant fish swallowed Jonah, and that is when he prayed a most unusual prayer. “You saved me!” This prayer was not uttered from a hotel bedroom or even a sandy beach; he prayed it from the belly of the fish that had ‘eaten’ him! This is a strange version of salvation!

But Jonah knew God was using this bizarre event to save his life and put him back on track. When the fish threw him up, he was ready to obey.

No matter how far away from God you feel, you are never too far to get back into the centre of His will for you. And, like Jonah, you’ll find out it’s never too late to return to Him in prayer.

PRAYER: Jonah 2:1-9

THE PRAYER THAT shaped all the others

Learning to pray is like learning anything new—it’s much easier with a teacher or guide.

Jesus wanted to equip His followers to pray. The “Lord’s Prayer” that He taught isn’t a mantra to chant, but the Teacher’s guidance for His people. It is a prayer model to help us speak with God.

The key to prayer is the very beginning, “Our Father.” We don’t come to God as strangers hoping for a bit of kindness; we come as His children, confident in his love. Our prayers are shaped by our focus on God and His kingdom rather than us and our little kingdoms. We can—and should—ask God for everything we need. We can even ask Him for things we desire; He loves to bless His children. But ultimately, it’s His will that is the best thing for us and those we love.

Jesus’ prayer model includes praise, submission, confession, asking for guidance and seeking to imitate God’s own heart of forgiveness. They are all big things for little people to demand of an awesome God; yet they are perfectly natural things for children to seek from their Dad.

Let Jesus’ prayer model guide your prayers; you can speak openly and seek anything from your Father in heaven.

PRAYER: Matthew 6:9-13

THE MOMENT OF

praise that rejoiced in having little

Have you ever found yourself part of an awkward team up? Perhaps you’ve had to work on a project with your boss. Or trained in a new skill alongside a professional. On paper, prayer could have a similarly awkward dynamic. After all, in prayer the mightiest teams up with the tiniest. Yet our experience of working with God is joyful, not uncomfortable. One penniless teenage girl knew this first hand. Mary had nothing to offer the Lord—nothing but love and willingness. “He has been mindful of the humble state of his servant,” she sang, rejoicing before the Lord after an angel announced she would give birth to the Messiah.

Mary became a fellow worker with God because of all He could do, not because of all she could offer. Her joy came from recognising both her own humility and His awesomeness. “He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble,” she sang.

Like Mary, we can all help bring Jesus into the world when we team up with God in prayer. Our weakness is no issue at all. Come and humbly rejoice in His power and let Him perform mighty works in your life too.

PRAYER: Luke 18:13

ANSWER: Luke 18:14

THE

PRAYER THAT

wouldn’t even look up to heaven

Where’s your focus when you pray? Yourself and your needs? The people around you and the things God needs to fix there?

Jesus told a story of two prayers: one of a Pharisee and one of a tax collector. The Pharisee was a religious leader and pillar of society—and he was proud of it! He looked at himself, then looked around him and thanked God he wasn’t a sinner like the greedy, dishonest tax collector.

But that wasn’t the prayer Jesus wanted His listeners to notice. The praying tax collector wasn’t looking around. He couldn’t even bring himself to look up. He was a sinful man and he knew it. All he could do was plead with God to be merciful to him, even though he didn’t deserve it.

Humble, honest, self-aware and seeking mercy without anything to offer in return—the tax collector’s prayer gives hope to all of us. For Jesus explains, “This man, rather than the other, went home justified before God.”

Moral goodness and religious devotion make for a wonderful life and community; but they don’t earn us any favour with God. God wants us to recognise that every good thing we have comes from Him. He doesn’t want us to keep our eyes on ourselves or on others when we pray, but always on Him; the source of all goodness and mercy.

PRAYER: Luke 22:39-44

ANSWER: Luke 22:47-54

THE UNANSWERED PRAYER at the centre of history

If anyone should get their prayers answered with a “yes”, it’s Jesus, right? Except on the night of His betrayal and arrest, His Father answered “no”.

Unimaginable pain and anguish lay ahead. Jesus would be beaten, mocked, falsely accused and utterly shamed. Nails would shatter his hands and thorns would tear his head. He would slowly suffocate as He hung from a wooden cross under the burning sun. Worst of all, in his torture and death, He would take the sin of the world upon Himself. Jesus would take the blame, the guilt and the shame. The Son would be judged by His Father.

In the calm before the storm, Jesus knelt to pray. As we listen through Scripture, we hear a prayer of perfect balance. It’s an honest cry for rescue and an absolute surrender to the Father’s will, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”

Jesus’ most testing moment gives us great hope. Not only did our Saviour commit to walking the costly road to save us, but He models what prayer looks like when we’re in anguish. It’s real, it’s raw and it’s honest—we really can pour it all out to our Father. And it keeps clinging to the Lord in faith, for He truly knows what is best.

PRAYER: Luke 23:34

ANSWER: Colossians 3:13

THE PRAYER THAT

forgave the unforgiveable

Is there anything harder than forgiving someone who doesn’t deserve it? It is perhaps one of the most difficult parts of the Christian life—forgiving those who wrong us, even those who show no remorse.

Jesus prayed from the cross, but probably not the prayer we would expect. He didn’t say, “Father, may this pass quickly,” or “Show these people how evil they are being to execute the Son of God.” He prayed instead for their forgiveness.

They were literally sharing out His clothes for themselves in front of Him. There was no remorse, no regret, no shame. Humiliated, in pain and alone, Jesus still looked on His enemies with compassion.

Forgiving others isn’t easy. But, because of Jesus’ death on the cross, it really is possible. When we forgive others, we are extending the forgiveness of Jesus Himself, the very forgiveness we have received. Rather than holding people accountable to us, we release them instead to Jesus.

And it all begins in prayer. Forgiveness comes from our Father’s heart—so let’s come near, even in our most painful moments, just as Jesus did, to draw on His infinite well of grace and love.

THE PRAYER THAT united every corner of the earth

Imagine being able to hear a dying mother’s final prayer for her beloved children. How would her imminent death sharpen her focus? What would you learn about her deepest desires for her children?

We have something even more precious in Scripture. We have the final prayer of Jesus for His beloved disciples. “Father, the time has come. I have done all the work you gave me to do. Now, I pray for the people You have given me.”

Jesus prayed for protection, joy and holiness for all those who had entrusted their lives to Him. He even looked down the corridors of time and prayed for all His future disciples—including us!

There is one overriding matter that we find on Jesus’ heart as He prays for us. Again and again He prays that we might “be one.” Unity is rare in the world. It’s rare in politics, in marriages, in families and in communities. It is a powerful thing when we find a group of individuals absolutely focused on one common purpose. It is rare and precious to find unity with genuine love. But that was Jesus’ deepest desire for us. He prayed that we—His church—might know the true love and oneness that can only come from God. Let’s prayerfully seek it together.

PRAYER: Acts 4:23-30

ANSWER: Acts 4:31-35

THE PRAYER THAT made the church bold

Do you try to pray your difficult circumstances away? It’s understandable, but not always very effective. Jesus’ early disciples prayed more strategically. They prayed they would be able to face their circumstances.

The disciples found themselves in trouble after Jesus’ ascension. Peter and John were arrested by the authorities when they healed a man in Jesus’ name. They were threatened and told to never speak of Him again.

Returning to the other disciples, they prayed together. But instead of just praying for the danger to go away, they began by reminded themselves of God’s power and authority in their situation.

“You are Lord of heaven and the earth.” It helped them see the futility of their enemies and put things in perspective. Then, they asked for the boldness to keep obeying and speaking about Jesus.

Jesus was always clear that His people would face all kinds of trouble; we can’t just pray it away. But He also promised to give us what we need to face the difficulties of life when we pray!

What do you need from God today? Follow the disciples’ example and pray for His provision—and see if He doesn’t shake the foundations of your fears.

PRAYER: Acts 7:59-60

ANSWER: Acts 7:60

THE PRAYER OF a martyr

As Christians, we have very real enemies seeking to disrupt our walk with Jesus. The devil, the world around us and even our own sinful instincts are constantly looking for opportunities to drag us away from God.

Stephen was in his last moments on earth. He’d given a powerful, deeply challenging sermon to the religious leaders who denied Jesus. In their murderous rage, he was dragged out to be stoned to death by the crowd.

Alone, in pain, and treated as an enemy of the state, Stephen spoke his last prayer. It wasn’t a cry for rescue, but a deep moment of acceptance and forgiveness. Within the violent storm of stones, Stephen imitated His Saviour’s death and even saw Jesus standing ready to receive him in heaven.

Stephen’s prayer didn’t just come from within his own heart; it came straight from the heart of His Lord who also forgave from the cross. In his darkest moment, when the crowd and probably his own senses were screaming at him to pull away from Jesus and live, he stayed close to His Saviour.

Nothing can separate us from our Lord. Even in our worst moments, we can cling to Him in prayer just like Stephen.

THE MOMENT OF praise that rejoiced in the unknowable

Sometimes God’s ways just don’t make sense. Answers to prayer confuse us, shut doors frustrate us and missed opportunities lead us to despair.

“God works for our good in all things,” Paul confidently wrote to the Christians in Rome. No, we don’t always understand God’s ways, but they are always good, always wise and always worth trusting.

“Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!” Paul later bursts out in praise. His short, prayerful exclamation of wonder at the unsearchable ways of God is an encouragement for anyone who has ever questioned the Lord’s plans. We don’t have to understand what God’s doing to know that He’s doing what’s right. It’s in His very nature. Who can educate God? Who can teach Him anything? Who does God owe and who finds their life and existence outside of Him? Come and wonder with Paul at the Lord who holds every strand of this world in His loving hands. You’ll discover your soul is satisfied in trusting His might and wisdom, even when you don’t yet understand what He’s doing.

PRAYER: Romans 11:33-36

PRAYER:

THE

PRAYER THAT

knew true power

What’s the most powerful thing you can think of? The firepower required to launch a shuttle out of our atmosphere. A roaring tidal wave. The burning heat of the sun.

How about the power to form the whole universe, place the stars and raise mountains out of the sea? Even that doesn’t quite capture the power at work within our lives.

Writing to encourage Christians from his prison cell, Paul included a prayer in his letter. It was a prayer all about growing in knowledge—but not just textbook knowledge. Paul longed for his fellow believers to grow in their knowledge of God; the hope He gives, the future He promises and the power with which He works in our lives.

Even greater than the power to create a universe from nothing; this is the power to bring life out of death, to bring meaning to the meaningless, to turn dead ends into fresh starts. The power which raised Jesus from the dead and seated Him above every authority and dominion is at work within us today. May we all, as Paul prayed, have a fresh revelation of the inexhaustible hope, the glorious future and the incomparable power of God that is our inheritance as His children.

THE PRAYER THAT went beyond understanding

The more we explore our universe, the more we realise how much we still have to discover. Scientists think we’ve only explored about 5% of the great cosmos around us. Closer to home, only about 20% of the ocean has been mapped or even seen by humanity.

In Paul’s second prayer in the letter to the church in Ephesus, he longs to see Christians becoming explorers. But not primarily of our universe—he has something much bigger in mind: the love of Jesus.

Paul longs for us to have a deeper experience of who Jesus is, allowing Him to reign in our hearts and fill us with the fullness of God. It’s a mind-blowing idea; God wants to fill us up with Himself! And it all begins with living in a love that is way bigger than we can ever get our heads around.

If we’ve only found 5% of the universe, then we’ve barely begun to explore and delight in the infinitely greater love Jesus has for us.

Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians encourages us to set our focus and delight in the love of Christ during our own prayers. Then our lives and our churches will bear the fruit of His love out in the world. With Him, we find everything our hearts need and more.

PRAYER: Ephesians 3:14-21

THE PRAYER THAT genuinely loved other Christians

How do you really feel about other people in your church? Are they either friends or just people you put up with? Or are they fellow workers in a shared mission? Or do they hold a very special place in your heart?

When Paul prayed for the Christians he knew, he didn’t do it out of duty, but out of love and joy. “It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart.” Paul’s love wasn’t a warm, mushy feeling—that would be an unrealistic expectation for us to have. After all, the reality is that some people in our church will annoy us or see the world in a very different way.

Paul loved and prayed for fellow Christians because he saw them as joining with him in God’s grace to live for the ultimate purpose we all have: bringing glory and praise to God. Seeing them through God’s eyes, and knowing they had the same mission as him, helped him to long for them “with the affection of Christ Jesus.”

If you struggle to love others in your church, join Paul in praying for the grace-centred love that “abounds more and more” for the glory of God. For loving other believers from the heart is not something we can force; it’s a gift from God.

THE PRAYER FOR a church that pleases God

We often think about what we want to get out of church; but do you ever wonder what God wants us to get out of it?

Paul’s prayers for the New Testament churches help us find out God’s desires for His people. His prayer for the Colossian church was for them to “live a life worthy of the Lord, being fully pleasing to Him.” They weren’t just to please themselves and fulfil their own agenda; Paul prayed that they would be good representatives of God in their part of the world.

He prayed that they would have an in-depth understanding of God’s purposes so that they would grow in their relationship with Him and bear His good fruit.

The church does not exist for itself. We have the task of being God’s ambassadors where we have been placed; and He wants us to represent Him well. But we can’t do it in our own strength. That’s why Paul prayed the church would be “strengthened with all power”. For the strength we need is only found in the One who fills us with Himself.

As we pray for endurance and experience God’s strengthening, Paul writes that joyful thanks will surely follow. We will discover church is the place where we become steadfast and firm as His ambassadors.

THE CALL TO

worship the One who holds our future

Praising God is joyful and fulfilling. As we praise Him, God blesses us in return. But as good as praising God is, it can be challenging to worship Him in this way when life is hard and we’re anxious.

At the end of his letter, Jude launches into one of the Bible’s most exciting passages of worshipful praise. One of the things that makes it so joyful is that it’s not circumstantial. Regardless of what we’re going through, this is a song of praise we can offer up ourselves.

It speaks of our glorious future where Jesus will present us as faultless and blameless—to Himself! Jesus is the beginning and the end of our destiny. He is our security and our guarantee. On our worst day, this is still where we are headed: to be displayed in heaven’s throne room as a trophy of Jesus’ grace. And He will do it, says Jude, with great joy.

When praise is hard to come by and our hearts are heavy, Jude helps us to lift our eyes to the One who holds our future in His hands and will do everything required to get us there safely.

THE ETERNAL PRAISES for the Lamb who was slain

God’s Word promises heaven will be far, far better than anything we can even begin to imagine. Our human minds simply can’t comprehend the glory of God. During the revelation Jesus gave him, John tried to describe the praises of heaven for us. They start with the elders, then angels take up the song, and soon the whole population of God’s kingdom joins in: “To God be praise and honour and glory and power!”

And at the centre of it all is the Lamb looking like it has been slain. Jesus sits on the throne, displaying the scars of the sacrifice He made to save us. And heaven responds. The songs of praise are exciting, fulfilling and breath-taking. Every song sparks another. Every act of worship inspires more.

The heartbeat of heaven’s praise is Jesus’ worthiness, shown in the shedding of His blood. And this is a depth we can bring to our prayers and praise while we still live on earth. Each prayer we say is not primarily about us and our needs, but about putting the Lamb that was slain back on the throne of our hearts. He alone is worthy of our honour and our faith.

Let the adoration of John’s revelation inspire you to join in with heaven’s song today.

THE PRAYER THAT brings Scripture to a close

T“hat’s not fair!” How often did we repeat this as children before realising that life just isn’t fair. But even that knowledge leaves us unsatisfied.

Life should be fair: cheaters should be penalised, thieves should return what they’ve stolen, liars should face the truth. Good deeds should be celebrated, and selfishness should face consequences. We know this instinctively, even though we so rarely see it. One day, things are going to change.

“Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” The closing prayer of the Bible is a powerful reminder that life is not going to carry on like this forever. Jesus is coming again! And when He does, there will finally be true justice.

Jesus said, “I am coming soon! I will give to each person according to what they have done.” It will be a day when wrongs are righted; those who’ve rebelled against God and His people will be held to account.

As for those who choose Jesus now; “They will see His face.” Faith will be eternally rewarded in His presence. None of us knows exactly what that will look like, but when it happens, we will see that God is good and fair; no wrong we suffered on earth ever escaped His notice.

Next time you are facing the frustration of injustice, pray the Bible’s final prayer, “Come, Lord Jesus!” And soak up the vision of the future that accompanies it.

Prayer List

               

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Prayers of the Bible at a

Glance

Prayer can be really hard. Sometimes our thoughts get all jumbled up and we’re not even sure if God is really listening. That’s why the prayers of Scripture are so important. They are totally relatable! Some people prayed for the wicked to be saved; others prayed for eternal justice. Some prayers shook the earth; others were whispered in private. Some poured out praise; others questions. Some were full of confidence; others doubt. Some rejoiced in the unknowable, others screamed “Why?”

If that tells us anything, it’s that prayer doesn’t come from a rule book; it comes from the heart. Our hope is that these little introductions to the prayers of the Bible will inspire you to read and reflect on them for yourself. As you do, you’ll find more and more reasons to always fix your eyes on the Lord in your own unique and personal prayer life.

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